Baby seat cover with strap access panel

ABSTRACT

A baby seat cover with a strap access panel. The pad is made of flexible fabric and has an approximately rectangular shaped cutout area centrally located on the surface of the pad. A fabric panel sized to fit within the boarders of the cut out portion of the pad is attached to the pad at its lower edge so that when the panel is in place within the cut out area, parallel slits are created in the pad for baby seat straps to protrude through. The panel has loop type fastening strips extending out from its top and sides and the edges of the cut out rectangular portion have mating hook type fasteners extending inward from the top and side edges of the cut out area. The pad has a plurality of centrally located horizontally disposed slots located at the lower portion of the pad to receive the crotch strap of the baby seat.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of protective seat pads and more specifically to baby seat cover with strap access panel.

Baby seats for use on car seats or in strollers are a common feature of today's mobile society. These seats help retain babies and keep them in place while traveling in a car or stroller. They typically include straps that snap or buckle together to hold the baby in place. Recently, the addition of seat pads for baby seats has been introduced. These pads are intended to be removable and replaceable so that they can be cleaned periodically. However there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that the seat strap attachment points are not all located in the same spot. The strap to seat attachment point depends on the style of seat and the seat size. There is therefore a need to provide a seat pad that can accommodate the seat straps no matter what their attachment point location .

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a baby seat cover that allows the care giver to pass straps normally found on car seats and strollers through slits that are created by a removable and replaceable panel located in the central portion of the seat cover to accommodate the variation in strap attachment points that occur from one baby seat to another.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed baby seat cover with strap access panel comprising: an elongate flexible fabric pad, said pad having an approximately rectangular shaped cutout area centrally located on the surface of said pad, a fabric panel sized within the boarders of said cut out portion of said pad , said panel fixedly attached to said pad at its lower edge, said panel having loop type fastening strips extending out from its top and sides, the edges of said cut out rectangular portion having mating hook type fasteners extending in from the top and side edges of said cut out area, and said pad having a plurality of centrally located horizontally disposed slots located at the lower portion of said pad for receiving the crotch strap of the baby seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in the use position

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the invention in the flat position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention showing the flap removed from the cutout area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the baby seat pad 100 of the present invention. It is generally elongate in shape 2 and made of flexible fabric. It includes piping 20 around the edges to create a clean, finished look. A Rectangular cutout area 22 in the pad 2 is filled with an identically shaped central panel 4 which is fixedly attached to the pad 2 at its lower edge 24. The panel 4 may actually be cut from the same pad 2 and have the lower portion remain attached. Or the rectangular cutout portion 22 may be completely cut out and a separate panel sewn at its bottom edge 24 to the bottom edge of the cut out area 22 of the pad 2. Additional slots 6 can accommodate the seat strap that comes up from the crotch portion of the baby seat.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the invention 100 in the flat position. Three loop type fastening tabs 8, 12, 16 located on the panel 4 engage three hook type fastening tabs 14, 18, 10 located on the edges of the cut out portion 22 of the pad 2. These hook and loop fasteners hold the panel 4 in place during use. Because of the long parallel slits created between the side walls of the panel 4 and the side walls of the cut out portion 22, the present invention 100 can accommodate baby seats of all types no matter at what height the top of the straps are fastened to the baby seat structure.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the baby seat pad 100 of the present invention as panel 4 is lifted away from pad 2 clearly showing cut out area 22 as well as hook type fasteners 14, 18, 10 that are attached to the side walls of the cut out area 22. In this way, the straps found on most common baby cars seats and strollers can be easily fed through the pad 2 no matter what height the straps are attached to the car seat.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. baby seat cover with strap access panel comprising: an elongate flexible fabric pad; said pad having an approximately rectangular shaped cutout area centrally located on the surface of said pad; a fabric panel sized within the boarders of said cut out portion of said pad; said panel fixedly attached to said pad at its lower edge; said panel having loop type fastening strips extending out from its top and sides; the edges of said cut out rectangular portion having mating hook type fasteners extending inward from the top and side edges of said cut out area; and said pad having a plurality of centrally located horizontally disposed slots located at the lower portion of said pad for accommodating the crotch strap of said baby seat. 